Adjustable steering post



A Ii] 5 1927 1623 493 c. E. POSTLETHWAIT ADJUSTABLE STEERING POST FiledDec. 2a, 1926 2 Sheets-Sh'eef} annual 6'. z". Pasiiei i {1 WWW PatentedApr. 5 ,1927. I

: .AnJUs'rABLE STEERING rosr. I

Application filed December 28, 1926. fierial No. 157,589.

This invention relates to an, improved steering post for motor'vehiclesand seeks, among other objects, to provide a post'which may be eitherlengthened or shortened for elevatingor lowering the steering wheel tosuit the convenience of the driver.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steering post whichmay be rocked forwardly or rearwardly for adjusting the angular positionof the steering wheel with respect to the drivers seat to suit the con--venience of the driver.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a singlemeans for looking the steering post in adjusted position Other objectsof the'invention not spec1fically mentioned in the foregoing will appearduring the course of the following description. r

V In the accompanying drawings: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my 7 improved steering postapplied, parts of a conventional motor vehicle being illustrated.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows. v

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3+3 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view particularly showing'the telescopicsectionsof one of the control rods.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectionalview on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view show.- ing the mounting ofthesteering wormhous- 1n teferring now more particularly to thedrawings, I have shown the'left frame bar of the chassis of aconventional motor ve-,

' through said bearingsis a rock shaft 15,

and fixed to the outer endof saidshaft is a lever 16 to whichisconnected the usual drag link 17 of the steering gear. J ournaled uponthe shaft 15 between the bearings 12and 14 is a gear housing 18, and'fiXed to the shaft within the housing is a worm gear 19. I

As most clearly shown in Figure 2, the

steering post comprises a lower solid shaft section 20 and an uppertubular shaft section 21 which telescopically fits over the lowersection. The lower section 20 is journaled through the housing 18, andfixed to said section is a worm 22 meshing with the worm gear 19 so thatwhen the section 20 is rotated, the shaft 15 will .be rocked 'forswinging the lever 16 and steering they'vehicle. Near its upper end, thesection 21- of the post is provided with a reduced circular portion 23at the base of which is an annular shoulder 24, and rising from theportion 23 of the section is a conical terminal 25' from which projectsan axial stud 26. The

shaft section 20 is provided, as particularly seen in Figure 3, withquadrant-1y spaced longitudinally 7 extending slots 27, and screwed orotherwise fixed to'the section 20 are keys 28 slidably'fitting in saidslots. Thus, the section-'21 may be shifted upwardly or downwardly uponthe section 20 vide an oil-tight joint between the nut and easing. Thus,grease may be introduced into the casing for lubricating the parts, and

mountedupon the casing, as seen in Figure 3 1, is an appropriate oil orgrease cup Fitting the tapered terminal 25 of the shaft section 21 is astecringwheel 84 keyedto said terminal, and screwed on the stud 26 is anut Ski-securing the steering wheel in position. ,Thus, as will beunderstood in view of the foregoing, the steering post may be lengthenedor shortened by pulling"up wardly or "pushing downwardly on thesteering-wheel, and attention is" now directed to the fact'that'theflange 30 of the casing 29 is confined between the shoulder 24 of theshaft section 21-and the hub of the steering wheel so that when theshaft 7 section 21 is moved upwardly or downwardly the casing will beshifted therewith.

Formed on t-h-e casing 29 near its upper .end is a tootherd segment 36belowv which the casing is provided with. diametrically disposed lateralears-37, and ahnmg with V said ears are longitudinally extending tubularbosses 38 integral with the casing. 'As,

shown inFigure 2, the bosses 38 extend throughout the major portionofthe length of the casing and are open at theirends. Journaled in thebosses are lower control rod seotions39 which are provided at theirlower ends with leverstO; These rod sectionsiare formed with tubularupper end I {POTtlOIIS 4:1 in which are provided diametriclongitudinally extending slots 42, andslidably ifitting at'their lowerends i'in "the tubular 113011310113 41 of -th'ellower rod sections are'fthenpper sections 43 of the/"control rods. iEhe;-sections4l3 arejournaled through the ears :37, and-detachably fixed to the upper fiendsof said sections are leversfltt which are adisposed to coact with thesegment 36, while at their lower 'en'dssaid'sectlons are, asparticularly seen in Figures 4 and 5,

formed with keys 45 slidably fitting in the -slots 42; The rods are, ofcourse, provided for, controlling the spark and throttle of the yehioleengine, suitable connections being imade with "the levers foraccomplishing I these functions and, as will "be seen, when -the levers44 of said rods fare swung, the

rodswillbe rotated while, when the steering post isalengthened orshortened in the man- ;ner ;previously described, the upper rod sections43 will slide within "the tubular portions 41 of the lower'rodgsections39.

. Mounted upon the instrument board el'l'of the vehicle, as seen in"Figure 3, isa bracket 7 "which includes a pair of companion aws 146 andethanol-extending through the upper fiends/ 6fsaidjawsis a bolt 48 whichnot only serves to pivotally connect the aws but also I extendsthroughthe instrument'board 11 for securing the jaws thereto. Formed on the jaw46 near its upper end is an ear 4:9, and

, 'e-xte'nding throughsaid ear and-through the instrument board is abolt 50 securingfthe l downwardly from the instrument boa rd to straddlethe casing 29 of the steering post,

and formed in thefinner longitudinal edges of. said jaws are'pairs ofoppositely disposed notches 53 which are adapted to selectivelyreceivethe bosses 38 on-said'casing. Thus,

3 :by adjusting the nut 52 'of' the bolt 51,. the

V easing may be rigidly clainpedibetween the jawsifor supporting thesteering post near to the fact that by releasing the jaws from inengagen'ientwith the bosses 38,, the steering post may he rockedforwardly about the shaft 15 or maybe rocked .rearwardly for adjustingthe steeringw heel 34L in angular relat on to the drivers seat, when theaws l6 and 47 may again be clamped in engagement with said bosses forsecuring the steermg (post in ad usted position. Furthermore,

these jaws will, as will be perceived, also serve to lock the casing andconsequently the shaft section 21in adjusted position 1011- fgitudinallyof the shaft section 120. :1 accordingly provide a-steering post which:may

be either lengthened-or shortened -:as well --as tilted forwardly orrearwardly and wherein.

but a. single locking means is employed for securing the .;post 1n adusted =pos1t1on.

Havingthus described thetinvention, what- .I claim is:

I 1. Asteering ipostiincluding a lineallyadjustable shaft, meansmounting said shaft for forward or rearward tilting "adj ustment,

and a single means locking the shaft in :lineally adjusted position aswell as *in tilted adjusted position' f 2; .A steering post includingalineal'lyad justahle shaft, means mounting :said "shaft "for forward orrearward tilting adjustment, and a bracket supporting 'the {ll-P1381":end

in lineally adjusted position as well as in tilted adjusted position.

' 8. :A- steering rpost including justable shaft, uneans mounting saidshaft. for forward or rearward tilting adj u-stment,

portion of the shaft and locking the shaft V a lineall -acL a-nca-singcarried :by and enclosing a portion of said shaft, and a bracketstraddling the casing'and coacting threwithfor docking the shaft inlineally-aclju'sted ;positio1raswell a shaft formed of "telescopicsections one adjustable j longitudinally relative to :thegother, meansmounting the shaft for forward or "rearward tilting ad ustment,:acasing-acarried by said ad ustable shaftfsection, a' fixe'd brackethaving swingingly connected jaws straddling the casing, andmeansclamping the j aws'inengagement with the casing for lock I lingsaid shaft in tilted adjusted position as well :as looking theadjustable shaft section in adjusted posit-ion. y Y

'6. A steering post including a rock shaft,

a gear housing journaled 'thereon, a steer- :ing post shaft formed-ofte'lescopic sections 1tsupper end, and attention is 'nowdirected onejournaledin said housing and the other tilting adjustment about saidrock shaft, a

casing carried by said adjustable, steering post shaft section andprovided With bosses,

and a bracket straddling the casing to eoact with said bosses forlocking the steering post I I shaft in tilted adjusted position as Wellas looking the adjustable steering post shaft a section in adjustedposition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

COLUMBUS E. POSTLETI-IWAIT.

